By Patience Gondo
A moderate earthquake measuring a magnitude of 4.0 on the scale shook parts of Masvingo Province on Sunday afternoon, sending brief tremors across communities near Zaka, Bikita and Chiredzi.
The quake occurred at 12:02 PM on November 30 2025, with its epicentre located approximately 80 kilometres from Chiredzi, according to preliminary information shared by News Byte Zw.
Although no injuries or damage had been reported by last night, residents closest to the epicentre were likely to have felt the vibrations.
Seismic events of this nature are not unusual in Zimbabwe, particularly in the southern and eastern regions that lie close to the East African Rift System a geologically active zone stretching from Mozambique up to Ethiopia.
Masvingo Province, which borders Mozambique, has experienced minor tremors before, notably the 2021 and 2022 quakes recorded near Chipinge and Chiredzi, which were attributed to regional tectonic shifts.
The latest tremor appears to have been centred near Zaka, a district that falls within a zone occasionally affected by low to moderate seismic activity. Experts say magnitude 4.0 quakes are generally considered light, with potential to shake buildings but rarely causing structural damage.
Authorities were yet to issue an official statement on the incident by the time of publication, but monitoring networks continue to track aftershocks and assess whether further seismic activity is expected.
Residents in Masvingo Province have been encouraged to remain calm and report any unusual ground movements to local authorities or the Meteorological Services Department for documentation and safety assessment.